Offering ourselves as God’s instruments of healing, hope, love, justice, and freedom fulfilling the words of Jesus: “I came that you may have life, life to the full.” (Jn 10:10)

Richness

by Lorna Cañete

Over
the years, the Columban priests have established three parish communities in
Iquique, Alto Hospicio. Two of these parishes have already been turned over to the
diocese. The community I worked with was under the parish of Sacred Heart of
Jesus where the Columban priests continue to work. Columban missionaries, lay
and ordained work together in various parish activities.

The
locals consider this area as a ‘dormitorio’, a place to sleep in, since
majority of the people living in the municipality work in Iquique which is the
nearest city by the coast. In the area, there are many migrants from Peru,
Bolivia, Colombia, Argentina, Ecuador, Venezuela, Haiti, India, some even come
all the way from China, Japan, Korea, Indonesia and the Philippines. A number
of them work in mining industries since the northern part of Chile is very rich
in minerals.

I
was assigned in ‘Tomas’, one of the squatter settlements in the area. Here, we
visited families at home and celebrated mass. But I also went to other
communities with my fellow lay missionaries to visit families in their homes,
teach catechesis to youths to prepare them for sacraments, as well as to help
the choir in preparing for the Saturday and Sunday masses. My ministry also
involved giving guitar or piano lessons to those who wanted to learn, young and
old; crocheting and making handicrafts made of recycled materials with the
elderly; and facilitating Lectio Divina for families.

Indeed,
life was never boring with all these activities. Through our lessons,
gatherings and work together, I was able to get to know more people and deepen
my relationships with them. I did these things as a way to reach out to them
and be part of the community. I was able to know more about their culture and
traditions which helped in understanding the needs of the community better. My
experiences with them helped my eyes to see clearly, my heart to feel, and my
mind to gain a better perspective. It is because of them that I’ve had a
beautiful and unforgettable mission experience in Chile. Indeed, my life has
been enriched by the diversity of race, culture and tradition among the people
I’ve journeyed with in Chile.

A Vicious Cycle of Destruction

Followers

COLUMBAN LAY MISSIONARIES - PHILIPPINES

WHO ARE THE COLUMBANS

The Missionary Society of St. Columban, better known as the Columbans, is a Catholic Missionary Society founded by two young Irish priests. When they heard about the religious situation in China, with its multitude of people still untouched by the gospel, they gave up everything and started a new missionary society which they initially called the Maynooth Mission to China. The Columbans found others who had a similar vision and in 1920 started to meet the challenges of language and culture to share the suffering of China's poor.

The Columbans came to the Philippines in 1928.The Columbans are composed of priests, sisters and lay missionaries. The Columban priests have their headquarters in Hong Kong, while the sisters and lay missionaries have theirs in Ireland.

WHAT IS THE COLUMBAN LAY MISSION?

The Columban Lay Mission is an exchange of lay missionaries between the Philippines and other countries where Columbans work. It has a sending and receiving program. The sending program starts with the selection of candidates, orientation program, until lay missionaries return spiritually enriched by their experience in their mission areas.In 1978 lay volunteers arrived in the Philippines. As a response, three Filipina women served the Church in England for six years in the 1980s. The next team, composed of three active women parishioners, were sent to Pakistan. At present, there are 27 Filipino lay missionaries working in Peru, the Philippines, Ireland, Myanmar, Taiwan, Chile, Fiji, China, Korea, Hong Kong, and Britain. Four women, collectively called PH24 (24th team/batch of Filipino LMs) are in their fourth month of orientation to mission. The Philippines received its first lay missionaries from Korea in June 1990.

(updated November 8, 2016)

HOW TO JOIN THE COLUMBAN LAY MISSION?

REQUIREMENTS

Committed Catholic;Graduate of a 4-year degree;Healthy;Ideally between 23 and 40 years old;Single or married, male or female;Mature, joyful, life-giving, good in teamwork, with a passion for life;With work and pastoral experience;Willing to join others for a nine-months orientation program;Willing to commit at least three years to serve and learn from peoples of another culture, language or religion.

Join a "come and see" or information day where those interested can have the chance to interact with other applicants and Columban Lay Missionaries, therefore learning more about the Columban Lay Mission;

Complete a personal profile form;

Undergo an accompaniment period of 6 months to one year;

Undergo a battery of psychological & intelligence tests, and personal appearances before the Admission Board.

WHAT IS THE ORIENTATION PROGRAM ABOUT?

The orientation program starts August of each year and lasts nine months. Its two goals are to develop teamwork and cultural sensitivity. The focus here is primarily on the person then on to the context of mission. This is a period of mutual discernment for the Columbans and the LM-trainee concerned. The orientation program includes:

2. Eleven weeks Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) in one of the hospitals in Manila.

3. Exposure to Columban Family and to the different ministries of the Columbans and other religious congregations and immersion in an apostolate of their choice.

4. Group Processing. Reflections and Retreat. Personal and spiritual direction.

The 9 months orientation end with a directed retreat and vacation. Then their own Christian Communities promise their support and prayers at appropriate “sending ceremonies”.

WHAT IS THE RECEIVING PROGRAM?

The Columban Lay Missionaries-Philippines (CLM) does not only send Filipino Lay Missionaries overseas. We also receive lay missionaries from other countries. These foreign lay missionaries are assigned either in Luzon or Mindanao. Those assigned in Luzon learn Tagalog and those in Mindanao learn Cebuano. The Philippines received its first lay missionaries in June 1990 from Korea.

At present, there are 7 foreign lay missionaries in the Philippines. Naanise Mounga (Tonga), is on her ninth year here and works in the Columban parish of Malate. Ana Flores (Peru) works in the Agusan parish and in Cagayan de Oro. Anna Noh Hyein (Korea) works with the livelihood program of Our Lady of Mercy parish in the Diocese of Novaliches, and Sunny Kim Sun Hee (Korea) works with the Community Based Rehabilitation and feeding program in Payatas, Quezon City. Vasemaca Rokutakana Ratu (Fiji), Liliani Maafu (Tonga) and Haiti Muller (Tonga) completed their language studies in June 2016 and have started their ministries in Cagayan de Oro. Liliani is involved with prostituted women; Haiti works in the prison ministry for women; Vasemaca works with the livelihood program for women, BEC for landless communities and youth ministry. All three are are involved in the catechism for children.

ACTIVE AND RETURNED LMS

WHERE ARE COLUMBAN LAY MISSIONARIES SENT?

Filipino Columban Lay Missionaries have served in Pakistan, Peru, Brazil, Britain, Fiji, Ireland, Korea, Myanmar, China, Taiwan and Chile. Columban Lay Missionaries also serve in Japan and US-Mexico border. At present, there are 27 active Filipino lay missionaries. There are two in Ireland, two in Britain, six in Taiwan, four in the Philippines, three in Fiji, two in Korea, one in China, three in Chile, one in Myanmar, two in the Central Leadership Team based in Hong Kong, and one with pending assignment.

(updated November 8, 2016)

WHAT DO COLUMBAN LAY MISSIONARIES DO?

Lay Missionaries are engaged in catechesis and bible studies, family life, youth, women, children and prison ministries. Others are involved in programs for migrants, elderly, environment and care for creation, differently abled persons. Still others are engaged in inter-faith dialogue, health and livelihood programs.Lay missionaries also take time to reflect on their life's journey. They join workshops and seminars, e.g., that which foster better understanding among cultures. They too study so that they are more effective in their chosen ministries. Once a year they come together to share their mission and personal experience by way of the annual gathering. This is the time to strengthen bonds, build bridges, and discuss issues of common concern.